bull-roarer
[boo l-rawr-er, -rohr-]
- a wooden slat that produces a roaring sound when whirled around one's head on the end of a string or thong, used by some peoples of the world in religious ceremonies and by others as a toy.
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Origin of bull-roarer
First recorded in 1880–85
Also called thunderstick.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for bullroarer
Historical Examples
The sanctity of the bullroarer has been shown to be very widespread.
Though treated as a toy by Europeans, the bullroarer has had the highest mystic significance and sanctity among primitive people.
At certain Moqui ceremonies the procession of dancers was led by a priest who whirled a bullroarer.
bullroarer
- a wooden slat attached to a thong that makes a roaring sound when the thong is whirled: used esp by native Australians in religious rites
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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